complaint·August 12, 2021

due to COVID-19, kitchen staff would serve meals to residents in their rooms. R1 would always get cold food that was supposed to be served hot such as chicken, beef, soups and breakfast foods. R1 complained to staff many times but they continued to be served cold food. Interviews with kitchen staff (S1) revealed that residents constantly complained about being served cold food during this time period. Although efforts were made thereafter to serve the hot food while it was still hot, residents at the far ends of the hallways on each floor would still not be served hot food since it took longer for kitchen staff to get the food to them. Other staff (S2) admitted that this was an ongoing problem with many of the residents throughout the COVID-19 lock down period and that kitchen and other staff were well aware of it. The Department's review of facility menus during this period revealed that there were many items on the menus for foods that were supposed to be served hot such as scrambled eggs, chicken tortilla soup, beef stew, tarragon chicken, etc. Records review and interviews revealed that the facility did not observe procedures which protected the acceptability of food served to residents until the fall of 2020 when heat boxes and heat plates were purchased to keep the food warm. S1 also admitted during an interview with the Department that many food items that were supposed to be served hot were, in fact, served cold to the residents due to the logistics of the rooms, lack of equipment, and inability of staff to get the food to them quickly. Based on the evidence obtained during the complaint investigation, the allegation that staff did not properly handle food service is found to be SUBSTANTIATED, as there is a preponderance of the evidence to prove that the allegation occurred. A citation is being issued in accordance with California Code of Regulations, Title 22, and is listed on the attached LIC9099D, and a plan of correction was developed with Mr. Johnston. An exit interview was conducted with Mr. Johnston, and a copy of this report, the LIC 9099D, the LIC 811 and Applicant/Licensee Rights (LIC 9058 01/16) were emailed to the email address he provided to LPA; he expressed to LPA that he would send a confirmation email to upon receipt of these documents.